With trades and injuries ramping up, there are plenty of backfields to monitor as we near the fantasy trade deadline. Below are a few of the more notable situations that could affect your championship aspirations. 

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Buffalo Bills

• Zack Moss – 47 snaps (64%)
• Devin Singletary – 25 snaps (34%)

It can be tricky navigating the Buffalo Bills backfield. To start the season, Devin Singletary seemed to have the upper hand as he saw double-digit carries in each of the Bills’ first four games and totaled at least 70 rushing yards in three of them. Meanwhile, Zack Moss wasn’t even active in the opener and seemed to be in the dog house. 

But a lot has changed as we reach the halfway point of the season. Singletary hasn’t totaled double-digit carries in a month, while Zack Moss has seen 15 targets in his last three games to go along with 27 carries. Additionally, Singletary hasn’t seen more than 50% of the snaps out of the backfield since Week Two, while Moss has topped 50% every week since then. 

Neither Singletary nor Moss will be fantasy championship winners, but Moss is the choice if forced to choose (in PPR leagues, at least).

Next week: Bills at Jaguars 

Green Bay Packers

• Aaron Jones – 48 snaps (66%)
• AJ Dillon – 29 snaps (40%)

On the surface, it was a positive development to see AJ Dillon match a season-high in both snaps (29) and touches (16). But what’s interesting is every single touch he had were rush attempts. For the second time all season, Dillon didn’t see a target and, subsequently, didn’t have a reception. His 78 yards were all on the ground as he outrushed starter Aaron Jones by nearly 20 yards. 

Jones more than made up for himself falling behind in the running game by seeing a ton of action in the passing game. Jones led a Davante Adams-less offense with 11 targets, seven receptions, and 51 yards to go along with his 59 yards on the ground. Overall, Week Seven would be considered a success for both Jones and Dillon, along with the Packers, who knocked off the previously undefeated Cardinals. Expect this pattern in the Green Bay running game to continue as long as they keep winning. 

Next week: Packers at Chiefs

Houston Texans

• Rex Burkhead – 30 snaps (49%)
• Scottie Phillips – 15 snaps (25%)
• David Johnson – 11 snaps (18%)
• Phillip Lindsay – Eight snaps (13%)

Despite the Houston Texans not being a good team, fantasy players keenly watched their backfield in Week Seven. With the recent trade of Mark Ingram to the Saints, it opened up a sizable share of snaps for the remaining backs in Houston. And in a slight upset, Rex Burkhead led the way by double the snaps over the second-highest total. Thanks to those snaps, Burkhead led the way with 21 rushing yards (and a score) along with three receptions for 27 yards. It wasn’t pretty, but he was the most fantasy-relevant among all Texans’ backs which is significant as it came in a game where the Texans were behind, something that will happen again. 

Next week: Texans at Dolphins 

New Orleans Saints

• Alvin Kamara – 51 snaps (67%)
• Ty Montgomery – 33 snaps (43%)
• Mark Ingram – 22 snaps (29%)

As you just read, the Houston Texans traded running back Mark Ingram to his old team, the New Orleans Saints. And while no one would ever suggest Ingram would siphon off touches from stud running back Alvin Kamara, there was some intrigue on just how much action Ingram would see. It turns out the Saints threw him right in, having him carry it six times for 27 yards and targeting him twice in the passing game where he caught both passes for 25 yards. It was Ingram’s most efficient game of the season with the 4.5 yards-per-carry, his highest average in a game all season, along with his season-high 12.5 yards-per-reception. 

Ingram will never see significant numbers in the passing game, but he could see a decent amount of carries instead of Alvin Kamara handling every single snap. Ingram is also in a much better situation than Houston, which makes him have some FLEX appeal going forward. 

Next week: Saints vs. Falcons

New York Jets

• Michael Carter – 59 snaps (70%)
• Ty Johnson – 24 snaps (29%)
• La’Mical Perine – Six snaps (7%)

While few people predicted the Jets’ upset of the Bengals this week, more predicted the continued dominance of rookie Michael Carter when it came to touches. For the second week in a row, Carter saw 70+% of the snaps in the backfield; on those snaps, he generated 15 carries for 77 yards and a touchdown. 

The large snap share was also instrumental in the significant number of targets Carter saw. Thanks to backup quarterback Mike White checking down most of the game, Carter led the Jets in targets (14), receptions (nine), and receiving yards (95). And while the receiving numbers will be hard to duplicate, the snaps and carry totals won’t be for Carter. 

Next week: Jets at Colts 

Philadelphia Eagles 

• Boston Scott – 29 snaps (45%)
• Kenneth Gainwell – 20 snaps (31%)
• Jordan Howard – 16 snaps (25%)

So much for the Kenneth Gainwell breakout game. Many considered Gainwell, the next man up after starter Miles Sanders, was placed on IR last week, but he only saw action after the Eagles jumped out to a significant lead on their way to a 44-6 beat down of the Lions. 

Instead, Boston Scott led the way with 12 carries, totaling 60 yards and two touchdowns. Granted, newly signed Jordan Howard also saw 12 carries while Gainwell saw 13, but Scott was the starter, and the Eagles treated him like it. 

The 44 points were the highest the Eagles offense has scored all season, so it won’t be an every-week occurrence that they have three running backs see double-digit carries. But Scott and Howard are both intriguing options (as long as Sanders is out), while Gainwell seems destined to passing-down duty no matter who is hurt. 

Next week: Eagles vs. Chargers 

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Michael Moore is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Michael, check out his archive and follow him @DLF_Moore.